Centennial Public Art Project

Located downtown on what is now Burhen Way, just west of Main Street, this site was selected for the Centennial Project because of the importance of its location and how it acts as a year round hub of activity.

As it was the City's 100th birthday the project developed a "Passage through Time" concept. Click the photos for additional information.

In November of 2011 the City selected KPG Engineers Inc. to design the project and assist in obtaining public input. An "advisory group" was formed consisting of KPG and City staff along with members of local organizations including the Centennial Committee, Duvall Cultural Commission, Duvall Foundation for the Arts, and the Duvall Historical Society.

The Advisory Group developed a “Passage through Time” concept which would allow our City’s history to be told from the past through the present and into the future.

Centennial Project Era Art

In 2013 three era sculptures were commissioned by the City with each piece telling the story of an era of Duvall’s history. The sculpture artists and designs were chosen in a competitive forum managed by the Duvall Cultural Commission with selection committee members coming from diverse backgrounds. The three pieces that were selected are intended to be a historic showpiece and permanent legacy for our community.

Centennial Concept

Future Bridge

Free Spirit

Origins

Lower Gateway

Lower Gateway

Upper Gateway

The Artwork

Unveiled during the "Sandtennial" (annual Sandblast) event held in July 2013, ‘Future Bridge’ represents the current lifestyle and bridge to the future with flowing ribbons of stainless steel representing the river and a canopy packed with imagery, including a microchip. The piece also provides a surprise shadow effect when the light is right.

Unveiled at the projects ribbon cutting ceremony in June 2013, ‘Free Spirit’, is a cut work metal piece by Seattle artist Brandon Zebold that portrays the mid-century lifestyle of Duvall. It reflects the farming lifestyle of the Valley during that period as well as the infamous “Piano Drop” and “hippie” movement that was so important to Duvall.

Unveiled at the City’s annual Artwalk event in September 2013, ‘Origins’ by local artist Dan Cautrell uses metal and textured & colored concrete to honor the early years of Duvall and the pioneering spirit that established the City. The sculpture is in the shape of a canoe to reflect the Native American roots and importance of the river. It also features natural scenes, railroad, and farming.

Centennial Project Gateways

The 2013 Centennial Project features two distinctive gateways. The upper gateway located near Main Street is roadway scaled and meant to draw the eye of passersby leading through the project and to the lower gateway. The lower gateway is pedestrian oriented and, as the projects layout is from past to future, symbolizes the beginning of the City with its location near the historic train depot.

The concept for the lower gateway was developed by City staff and refined by our consultant. This early rendering of the gateway shows the influence of the historic swing bridge and railroad.

The concrete footing and seat wall reflect the bridge supports that used to serve the swing bridge along with the supports for the bridge that followed which still stand to the north of us today. The gateway includes railroad ties & rail as well as decorative iron truss work and park signage.

It’s placement at the west end of the project near the historic train depot and old railroad alignment roots the project to our origins.The lower gateway was largely designed and constructed by City staff. The structure is primarily made of lumber from trees removed for a City pond project and salvaged for this purpose. Staff also helped to mill the raw trees with a mobile sawmill.

The upper gateway is designed to be more contemporary and represent the City’s present and future. This gateway was originally envisioned as a complete arch that would span the roadway. During the advisory group’s meetings various options were discussed and a new idea was brought in at the project’s open house meeting. The idea was to hint at an arch but to leave it disconnected. This resulted in a banner or flag type look which was perfect for placement of the years 1913 & 2013.